Randomized, Double Blind, Multicenter Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Valdecoxib 40 mg Once Daily Compared With Diclofenac 75 mg Twice Daily in Acute Low Back Pain

Inclusion Criteria: * Acute low back pain, defined as either class 1a or class 2a according to the Quebec Task Force Classification and categorized as moderate-severe in the Pain Intensity Categorical Scale and Visual analogue score (VAS) greater or equal to 50 mm * Acute low back pain was to have started at least 72 hours prior to inclusion in the trial and more than 6 weeks after the last episode of acute low back pain * History of at least 1 reported episode of acute low back pain in the last 5 years Exclusion Criteria: * History of inflammatory arthritis, chronic pain, metastasis, Paget's disease, or other diseases known to cause pain * Moderate to severe scoliosis * Back pain due to major trauma or visceral disorder * Unwilling to refrain from commencing concomitant physiotherapy * Active or suspected esophageal, gastric pyloric channel, or duodenal ulceration or bleeding within 30 days prior to the first dose of study medication * Any known laboratory abnormality, which in the opinion of the investigator, would contraindicate study participation * Subject was pregnant or lactating woman , or was a woman of childbearing potential not using an acceptable method of contraception